a joint sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a joint sentence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or grammatical contexts to refer to a sentence that is shared or issued collectively, often involving multiple parties or clauses. Example: "The judge issued a joint sentence for the defendants, reflecting their shared responsibility in the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But Ardita probably won't do time, since the plea bargain contains a joint sentence recommendation of three years probation and a $5,000 fine.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As for the matter of a joint sentencing hearing for the Carrs, the justices didn't seem fully convinced that separate hearings would solve the brothers' constitutional conundrum.

Huffington Post

Elsewhere in the court's decision, Scalia rejected the Carr brothers' argument that a joint sentencing for the two meant that one brother's "mitigating evidence put a thumb on death's scale for the other, in violation of the other's Eighth Amendment rights".

Huffington Post

In a semantic priming study, we investigated the processing of German English homographs such as gift (German = "poison", English = "present") in sentence contexts using a joint reaction time (RT /event-related bRT /event-relatedRP) measure.

Cognitive Brain Research

"The joint sentencing proceedings did not render the sentencing proceedings fundamentally unfair".

Huffington Post

"Only the most extravagant speculation would lead to the conclusion that the supposedly  prejudicial evidence renders the Carr brothers' joint sentencing procedure fundamentally unfair".

Los Angeles Times

Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi will become the first person to admit to war crimes charges before the international criminal court (ICC) based in The Hague at a joint hearing and sentencing due to be held in the coming months.

The Guardian

On the day after the election, Kevin de León, the pro-tempore president of the California Senate, and Anthony Rendon, the speaker of the California Assembly, released a joint statement whose opening sentence — "Today, we woke up feeling like strangers in a foreign land" — perfectly summarized the disorientation that millions of Americans were experiencing.

The New Yorker

Seven years ago, a meeting in Hanoi between then-presidents Bush and Triet produced a joint statement with a sentence about dioxin.

Huffington Post

Four Bahraini rights group issued a joint statement condemning the sentence and five political parties held a sit-in in solidarity with Rajab.

Wikipedia

Preston's sentence was a joint submission by both the defense and prosecution.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal contexts, clarify whether the "joint sentence" is a recommendation, submission, or the final ruling by the court.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a "joint sentence" always means a lenient outcome. It simply implies agreement or collaboration in determining the sentence, not necessarily a lighter penalty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a joint sentence" functions as a noun phrase or term of art, particularly within the legal context. It signifies a collaborative or mutually agreed upon sentence, as indicated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a joint sentence" is a phrase referring to a sentencing agreement made collaboratively, often between prosecution and defense. While grammatically correct, as Ludwig AI confirms, its meaning can be nuanced, particularly in legal contexts. It does not guarantee a lenient outcome but indicates a mutual agreement. When using this phrase, clarity is key to prevent misinterpretations regarding the sentence's scope. Related terms such as "collaborative judgment" or "agreed-upon penalty" can also convey similar ideas depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collaborative judgment

Emphasizes the collaborative nature of the sentencing decision.

agreed-upon penalty

Highlights that the sentence was mutually agreed upon.

collective sentencing

Focuses on the group aspect of the sentencing.

mutually recommended sentence

Stresses the recommendation aspect of the sentence coming from multiple parties.

cooperative sentencing agreement

Highlights the cooperative element of the agreement.

shared punishment

Focuses on the shared nature of the punishment.

concerted sentencing approach

Emphasizes the planned and agreed-upon approach to sentencing.

unified verdict

Stresses that the decision was unanimous and agreed upon.

consensual sentencing

Highlights the consensus-based decision-making.

combined penal order

Focuses on the combination of penal measures.

FAQs

How is "a joint sentence" typically used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "a joint sentence" refers to a sentencing recommendation or agreement made collectively by the prosecution and defense, often as part of a plea bargain. It signifies mutual agreement on the terms of the punishment, although the final decision rests with the judge.

What alternatives can I use instead of "a joint sentence"?

You can use alternatives like "collaborative judgment", "agreed-upon penalty", or "collective sentencing" depending on the specific context.

Does "a joint sentence" always mean a lighter punishment?

No, "a joint sentence" does not necessarily imply a lighter punishment. It simply indicates that the prosecution and defense have reached an agreement on the sentence, which could still be severe depending on the nature of the crime and other factors.

What is the role of the judge when there's "a joint sentence" recommendation?

Even with "a joint sentence" recommendation, the judge retains the authority to either accept or reject the proposed sentence. The judge will consider the recommendation along with other factors, such as the defendant's criminal history and the severity of the crime, before making a final decision.